Changemaker Spotlight – Linda Smith: Human Services Leadership with Heart, Advocacy, and Action for Disability and Foster & Kinship Care
Be genuine, be kind, and connect with people. Even a smile or hello can make a big difference.”
In the human services sector, where lives meet corporate decisions, leadership can take many shapes. Linda Smith shows how meaningful change comes not from policies or performance measures but through genuine humanity.
Linda is a respected leader in disability and foster & kinship care. Her story highlights the power of lived experience and how one person can inspire change by leading with heart and authenticity.
Her experiences shape her passion for advocacy and care. While Linda rarely speaks about her own journey, it fuels her ability to support others with empathy. Her approach is thoughtful, informed, and impactful.
Since 2004, Linda has volunteered with Queensland Foster and Kinship Care (QFKC), serving as the conference convenor. For her, the annual conference is more than just an event—it’s a way to celebrate carers’ resilience and dedication.
“Carers don’t get paid to show up every day,” Linda says. “The QFKC conference is about acknowledging their hard work. It’s also a space where they can feel heard, recharged, and valued.”
Under Linda’s guidance, the conference remains a meaningful event. It highlights the importance of carers’ contributions while building a sense of community. The 2025 QFKC conference, planned for the Sunshine Coast, reflects Linda’s commitment to action. She describes it as more than a meeting—it’s a platform to inspire change and create long-term solutions for carers and children.
As a leader and carer, Linda’s philosophy is simple: always remember the human element. “Never assume you know someone’s life,” she says. “Be genuine, be kind, and connect with people. Even a smile or hello can make a big difference.”
Her advice to emerging leaders in the sector is just as straightforward: “Set your ego aside and be real. Build honest relationships with the people you work with and support.”
Linda believes human services should focus on individuals, not labels. She challenges others to look beyond disabilities or circumstances and treat everyone with dignity, respect, and compassion.
Her drive to make a difference inspires many. “When you improve someone’s life, you also improve your own,” she says. This belief pushes Linda to show up every day—whether organising a conference, attending a meeting, or supporting a child or colleague.
Linda Smith reminds us why the human services sector exists. She challenges us to lead with purpose and compassion. Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: “There’s nothing like ending your day knowing you helped make someone else’s day better.”
Linda’s work creates ripples of impact, encouraging the sector to always prioritise humanity.